Vergil's Top 10 Games of 2012 (Cross posted via IGN blogs)

Cross posted via myIGN

It has been another wonderful year of video gaming. 2013 is 'round the corner, and since SPIKE TV's VGA 2012 is already over, I shall give you lovely people my top 10 picks! :D

10: Final Fantasy XIII-2

 I think a handful of people would know that this game's plot was rather... Clunky... I would say. It was a bit messy, but the combat system was improved and overall. I enjoyed this game. Not to mention the stunning soundtrack it has (Come on, most Square-Enix/Squaresoft games have fantastic soundtrack!) This game is definitely a great game to pick up if you're looking for an RPG :)

Vergil's rating: 8.0/10

9: Street Fighter X Tekken

 This game is underrated. As far as I know, it didn't sell well despite the great reception. I know, a handful of you don't really care about the fighting game genre, but if you want a game you can play with friends and have a fun time, I'd suggest this title. Seriously, if you're also both a Street Fighter and Tekken fan, I'd suggest you get this. It deserves the #9 spot

Vergil's rating: 8.5/10

8: Sleeping Dogs

 I really enjoyed this game. I mentioned before that this was like GTA with Asians with a bit of Max Payne. It's definitely one of my top picks and I suggest you get this game ASAP! One flaw I have with it though, is the short campaign. And when I mean short... Yeah... It's kinda short. But all in all, United Front Games made a good effort in making this. Read my review here.

Vergil's rating: 8.0/10

7: Call of Duty: Black Ops II

 Yeah, yeah... I admit it. I really enjoyed the campaign of this title. To a point where it made me replay the campaign multiple times. It's definitely better than MW3, and though the futuristic setting was controversial in the past, I have to say that I really like this not-so-distant futuristic setting. I only enjoyed the campaign though. I find the zombie mode boring for some reason, and I find the multiplayer rather dull... So therefore, this game deserves the No.7 spot of 2012!

Vergil's rating: 8.5/10

6: Hitman: Absolution

 I first thought I wouldn't like it because of the fact that it was stealth based. But in the end, I really enjoyed it and was hooked on this game for a week or two! It has a great story as well, and is also good for those who aren't used to the Stealth genre (There are tutorials, and the easy mode is targeted to beginners of the game). Honestly, I'd say you should get it. Really good game, and those hours of staying up late and feeling like crap in school was worth it :)

Vergil's rating: 9.0/10

5: Far Cry 3

 I was a bit sceptical when this game hit the shelves. I thought I would be bored out just like how I got so tired of Far Cry 2 due to the tedious exploration. But Far Cry 3 showed that Ubisoft Montreal sort of listened to the community and made their latest Far Cry game into a better experience. The stealth is fun, the fact that you can hunt animals in-game is fun (Don't have to do it in reality anymore! Hah!) and the crafting... Which I have mixed views upon, made me decide that this game is No.5 in my top 10 games of 2012!

Vergil's rating: 9.0/10

4: Halo 4

 Oh, what a coincidence. 4th game in my top 10 list... Is Halo 4. This would've been in the top 3, but sadly, this game's hype was short-lived, and it has numerous of problems that 343 has yet to fix. Apart from that, the game's campaign and soundtrack is bloody brilliant. Neil Davidge did an awesome job on the soundtrack, and the campaign is so beautiful... It's like a love story in disguise as an action FPS. I won't give spoilers though :P

Vergil's rating: 9.0/10

And now... The Top 3 games of 2012!

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Number 3 goes to...

Tekken Tag Tournament 2!

 At first, I really didn't like this game that much because of the extremely difficult A.I. (When I meant difficult, I meant cheating scumbag input reading kind of difficult!) But eventually, I managed to get used to the game, and sooner or later, they patched the game and made it easier (For the sake of beginner players and people who want to practice with the A.I.) This game is really underrated. So it kinda deserves the No. 3 spot because of the many things I love about this game, and also about the Tekken series.

Vergil's rating: 9.0/10

Number 2 goes to...

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Forza Horizon!

 Apparently, from what I've heard, this racing game is quite underrated (Which is surprising for a Forza title!) and is overshadowed by the (what I think is) horrible Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2012. If you own an Xbox 360, likes racing games, cars and exploration, you should definitely get this title. I can guarantee you that almost everything in this game will satisfy most of your needs! Has a great soundtrack too!

Vergil's rating: 9.5/10

And now... The moment you've all been waiting for! My number 1 pick of 2012 goes to...

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FARMING SIMULATOR 2013!!!

Oh God, I love farming so much

Vergil's rating: 11/10

LOL JK

It actually goes to Max Payne 3 :D

I think I've said this many times that Max Payne 3 is one of the greatest games I've ever played this year. In fact, I'm quite surprised that nobody mentioned anything about this game merely 2-3 months after its release. Movie-like cutscenes, great storytelling, awesome gameplay mechanics, epic soundtrack by HEALTH, sympathetic protagonist, and last but not least, the gorgeous setting in Brazil, Max Payne 3 gets the Number 1 spot in my Top 10 games of 2012! If you happen to see a price drop on this game... Get it.

Vergil's rating: 9.0/10

Read the review here

 Well, that's it. It's been another great year of gaming, and boy! Time flies! Thanks a lot for checking this out guys! I'll see you soon!

"I have always fought for the people I believe in" - Zero 

- Vergil

Reflection: A Horse and Two Goats

A Horse and Two Goats

A Horse and Two Goats is a short story written by R.K. Narayan.

It's about an old man named Muni, who lives in a small village in India. He is waiting around a statue of a horse for his sign to go home with his two goats when a car stops in front of him. 

An American man gets out of the car and attempts to converse with Muni in English, but being an Indian man living in a rural village, he couldn't understand him.

He does his best in attempting to understand the American, but due to a hilarious misinterpretation, the American thought that Muni was the owner of the horse statue and attempts to buy it off from him.

At the same time, Muni thinks that the American wants to buy the goats for a valuable price.

Finally, Muni goes home without his goats but with the money the American gave him. 

Meanwhile, the American waits for Muni to come back and help him load the statue into his car.

Personal thoughts:

This story amused me. It made me laugh due to the fact that there was miscommunication among Muni and the American. I would say that I kind of enjoyed the story, and it was also a story of one culture meeting another. I enjoyed this story a lot, and I'd say that this is the funniest one I've read. Not the best, but the funniest.

My Greatest Ambition and The Rain Horse reflection

My Greatest Ambition

This short story was written by Morris Lurie it has effectively shown the feelings of excitement and anxiety in the protagonist.

The protagonist, who is a young boy, has a dream to become a comic strip artist and make comics. it seems to be his Greatest Ambition.

His dream was coming true as he was heading for a meeting (Probably to determine whether or not he becomes a comic strip artist or not) and is showing signs of giving a good impression (e.g. wondering what to wear, as he considers it his job to be a really important step of his life.

The feelings of anxiety and excitement are interlinked together and form the basis of criticism in the story as they give a twist in the mood of the story shifting the setting occasionally.

Role: Vocabulary enricher

Personal thoughts: 
I liked this story. It was rather inspirational and it teaches people to follow their dreams and to not hold back. The protagonist's dream was to be a comic strip artist, and eventually, he did become one!

I've always wanted to direct movies and act. This story is somewhat of a motivation to follow my dreams and persevere.

BUT I DIGRESS! Overall, I would recommend this story to anyone who feels down and out. It really gives a message to people to hang in there.

The Dark Horse

Probably the most interesting out of the 4 short stories I've read. This short story was written by Ted Hughes.

There lived a young man who grew up in a farm, and then moved to the city for 12 years.

He went for a business career and was successful for the past twelve years. He wanted to go back home to relive his childhood memories.

Instead of an enjoyable walk down memory lane, he ended up being unhappy and quite miserable as he saw the condition of his home. 

Later, he encountered a horse and it attacked him after they stared down at each other.

The man managed to hold his ground and defeat the horse. He was forced back into reality, wondering what was going on. He felt somewhat lost. 

He sadly felt disconnected from where he grew up and didn't feel like the same person as he was before to a point where he questions his sanity.

Role: Summariser.

Personal thoughts:

A very interesting story which is based on the nature of mentality. Another story I can relate to as I am a bit crazy on the inside (I am, really). 

It has a mysterious atmosphere and the transition of the theme of the story made it extremely interesting. Like how the story started off as.

It started off, showing a happy lad wanting to visit home, and then it darkens down to something depressing and somewhat psychological. 

The story makes you think a lot. Did he really get attacked by a horse? Was he losing his mind? It's up to the reader to decide. 

This story is indeed fantastic!

Epistemic Philosophy

"When you always know what is right, where is freedom? No one chooses the wrong."

And what happens when they do? We condemn them of being evil? Arrogant? Mistaken? Where do we draw the line? When someone chooses the wrong or when someone chooses the wrong that he believes to be right?

The world of morality is vast and full of notions that, if you view it as a whole, it is something that has, for a lack of a better word, no resultant significance. The abstractions conceived from great sentience that is the Greek philosophers, paved the way for modern philosophers to theorize their own points, But where there is one positive theory, a negative one rises to bring balance. (the term ‘morality’ is then a general term to classify all ideas under immorality and amorality)

To interject a metaphor, I have gone passed the Event horizon of the black hole which is Morality; losing many assumptions about the simple nature of right and wrong.

I’d only like to begin on one, and only one, example on the ambiguity of morality, but its going to be a long article, so brace yourselves.

What is the general consensus of Right and Wrong?

It is/not a set of rules that we adopt to govern how we lead our lives

It is/not one’s ability to ascertain truth from false

Broadly speaking, these are the two main points of the general definition of moral Right and Wrong that I can think of. If there are any other points that I did not include, please notify via comments.

This has been addressed by many movies concerning good morals, most recently by Christopher Nolan’s new movie The Dark Knight Rises. Its been two months since it came out so I can stop worrying I’d be dealing out spoilers, but I was particularly intrigued on the implications of moral truth and how the movie addresses it. Relax, this is not going to be a review of that movie; I was merely relating to it for what I’m about to write next.

What are the implications of fact, truth, moral right and wrong? half truth? lies or general truth in its own context? Is the abstraction of a pure truth only conceivable for immortals? Does truth have to do with the canonicity of a supreme (or transcendental) being or force? I will begin to explore the aspect of these individual features to the best of my intellectual capability.

“When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only: What are the facts, and what is the truth that the facts bear out.”—Bertrand Russell

In that mindset. I’d like to draw out a non-linear sandbox for scenarios concerning these ideas.

Fact and Truth
Fact is the base understanding of the canonicity of what is; all things that are real. We perceive these facts to be in accordance with reality. A tree is a plant, a bird flies, fish swim, any behaviour that clearly can determine a logical inference from the observer with a substantial amount of certainty. A fact may not always be in accord with truth: a Fact is eternal, the truth is what the facts bear as evidence under logical conclusion of the person. I do not say, however, that a person’s conclusion is truth. Without a base of palpable evidence, these “truths” demote to opinions.

There is no empirical theory that dictates truth because of the causal intricate web of decision. think of right and wrong as 2 intersecting strings, forming a cross. and a third string spiralling out from the centre of the intersect; just like a spider’s web. different points in that web dictates your decision the degree of truth, but not the certainty of it.

I might continue to address the moral of right and wrong... When I feel like it.

At Hiruhama and The Sandpiper Literature Circles reflection

1: At Hiruhama

At Hiruhama is a short story, written by Penelope Fitzgerald.

It shows a story of Mr. Tanner. A successful lawyer who helped the family emigrate out of New Zealand.

Tanner embarks on a trip from England to New Zealand. Hoping to live a good life but instead, ending up living as a servant. 

He meets a woman named Kitty, who also ended up being a servant, and fall in love. They get married and they did some things behind close doors. 

Tanner's wife ends up being pregnant and then Tanner himself wonders how he will get proper medical help when his wife goes into labour one day.

My role: Discussion director

I managed my group discussion rather well for the first time. However, I was slightly ill-prepared which made me slightly regret taking the role. I promised my group that I would do better next time.

Honestly, I found this story rather boring, but I managed to pull through and visually understand the concept of the story. It is about how you can meet such a significant other at a place like where he was (Hiruhama). They were stranded together and they ended up as acquaintances to lovers. Which is a nice concept if you ask me. Still find it boring though.

I would recommend this short story if you have nothing to do. Or if you're into people getting stranded and ending up falling in love with each other. And yes, it's that boring.

2: The Sandpiper

Sandpiper, is another short story in the book, written by Ahdaf Soueif.

It is about a woman and her child. 

The story is also basically about the woman's relationship with her husband. And how she is visibly insecure and is shown to be an outcast in society. 

She recalls her feelings for her husband and how he has made an impact on her life.

However, their relationship falls apart but it is visibly shown that she still cares and have feelings for him.

She feels regretful as her husband allegedly lost his life during a plane crash some time ago.  

In the end, she realises that she has to move on and catch up with everyone else. 

Role: Illustrator

This story was not as boring as the previous short story. I actually liked it. The fact that the woman is a social outcast made me sort of relate to her as I was reading the book. I am generally a social outcast myself. But I digress! This is a good recommendation compared to the previous story. 

 

Halo: The Flood review.

                              

Just a year ago, I bought this book. Now, I finally gave myself the will to start a review on the novelization of the video game, Halo: Combat Evolved , called Halo: The Flood.
Halo: The Flood is based off the award-winning first-person shooter, Halo: Combat Evolved. It follows the story of John-117 and his companion, the UNSC A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) known as Cortana. John-117 is also one of the last few members of an experimental super-soldier program, called SPARTAN-II.

MCPO (Master Chief Petty Officer). John-117.
The main protagonist of the Halo series.

The UNSC A.I. Cortana. John-117's "partner-in-crime". A character who I find disturbingly attractive.

The book takes place after its previous title, Halo: The Fall of Reach

Halo: The Flood takes place between September 19, 2552 and September 23, 2552. It is based on the game Halo: Combat Evolved.

It begins as the UNSC cruiser Pillar of Autumn, on the run from the religious alien group known as The Covenant, exiting slipspace (Slipspace is something like a space jump from one point to another) after retreating from the fallen military base at the planet Reach.

The UNSC Pillar of Autumn arrives at Installation 04, also known as Alpha Halo.

One of a series of gigantic ring worlds, the Halo Array, left behind by the enigmatic, technologically advanced, and apparently extinct Forerunners (An ancient alien race).

Many fans of the franchise might find this book enjoyable because of the fact that it was based off the game. Thus, making it easier to picture things that take place in the book, as how things took place in the actual video game.

What was cool about this novel is that it's based on the actual game, so it was fun to say "Oh, I love that level." or "Haha, I always die there." The book answers the question "I wonder what John-117 would do."

Apart from that, there are also other scenarios that take place in the book, with the inclusion of a small Unggoy. (Grunt) named Yayap saving the life of a Sangheili (Elite) caled Zuka 'Zamamee. A member of the Covenant Special-Operations group who was wounded in the heated battle aboard the Pillar of Autumn.

The Unggoy (Latin, Monachus frigus, meaning "cold monk"). Known as Grunts by Humans.

The Sangheili (Latin: Macto cognatus, meaning "I glorify my kin"). Known as the Elites by the humans.

Another scenario includes the involvement of another group of soldiers in the plot. Mainly the ODST's (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers a.k.a. "The Helljumpers". An elite division of the UNSC Marine Corps), with Major Antonio Silva and 1Lt. Melissa McKay

What I like about the book is that the personality of John-117 was better depicted in the book compared to the games.

He displays human-like values and is shown to be a person who cares deeply for his men. Compared to the game where he was a near-mute character. Which is what I really liked.

Though the game depicts many of the game's scenes with the inclusion of many more intervals, and is arguably better than the actual game.

Overall, I'd give this book a 9.5/10

Halo: The Flood  is a definite recommendation to any Halo fan. And also a great book to get for fans of the action and sci-fi genre. If you enjoyed the game, you'll absolutely enjoy this book.

Thanks for reading! This is Vergil signing off!

"恐怖を教えてやろう - I'll teach you the meaning of fear" - 風間 仁 /Jin Kazama

- Vergil

Vergil's Snapshot and brief introduction

This is a photo stamp of what basically reflects myself.

Because I am a enthusiast when it comes to many things like Star Wars and lightsabers, people think I practice everyday (I used to, but because of the current events and conflicts that go on within my life, I don't do it as often as last time., which is why I used a group photo of my friends with lightsabers (with an obvious photo effect, of course.)

My parents (Particularly. my mother), are one of the people who have the sheer and ignorant mindset, that gaming turns you into a killer. Which is why I put up a picture of a security screen capture of the Columbine High School massacre, showing the 2 shooters: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Society sees me as a nerd with no life (With the inclusion of some people whom I've met in the past 10 years). They think I'm addicted to computing and gaming (Okay, I'm a gaming enthusiast, but not to a point where I can't control myself and not do anything besides play video games.) That is the main reason why I inserted an image of a "sentient" being, embracing his computer. Generally, I see society being dominated by ignorant and unforgiving people.

I have no real reason why I selected the picture of myself doing a funny face in front of the mirror. Probably because I had some teachers last time who scold me for being a magnificent human being with (according to my friends) a random sense of humour. So basically this is based off experience.

What I think I do... This picture is rather interesting. It shows a picture of the character "Strider Hiryu" from the game... "Strider Hiryu". Famous for being in fighting games such as the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. Because at times, I enjoy acting, so sometimes when I REALLY have nothing to do, I recite lines and personalities of video game characters. Or sometimes imagine myself as a protagonist of a movie/video game. Yeah, sad life indeed!

And last but not least, what I actually do, is just be myself. That picture is actually a joke photo uploaded by my friend on Facebook, comparing a picture I took when I was in Australia (with a "derp" face), with a picture of what looks like a goat. I like to entertain people. I like to fill the atmosphere with humour. Sometimes I either make the crowd laugh, or start an awkward situation. That's all I have to say about what I really do to be honest...

Overall, this is really just an introduction. I'm Vergil, or Yongli, and I'm a car, photography, motorsport and gaming enthusiast. I play a wide variety of video games, and I am defined as a social outcast. I'm an Atheist (More like an Anti-theist to be honest). I respect people's decision to be religious, but not their religion itself. All my life, I've been doing a lot of controversial things. Things that make me either lose, or gain friends. But it doesn't matter anyway. I have nothing to lose (Because I have nothing, really.) However, when I make friends, I try to leave religion and politics out of the picture as I believe that those 2 topics should not get involved unless if it is necessary.

My inspirations are many people including: Richard Dawkins, the late Richard Feynman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jeremy Clarkson, Carl Sagan, and last but not least: My cousin who's the first director of Singapore, Pearry Teo.

Professor Richard Dawkins.

The late and amazing Richard Feynman

The astro-physicist: Neil deGrasse Tyson

The hilariously harsh Jeremy Clarkson. Also known as one of the the co-hosts of Top Gear

The late Carl Sagan. Another scientist!

My awesome director cousin. Yes. He's my cousin!

Well that's about it. My first school-related blog. If you'd like, you can check out my other blog here at IGN : http://www.ign.com/blogs/kael555

Thanks for reading, hope this introduction can lead to a start of a new fruitful blog!

"恐怖を教えてやろう - I'll teach you the meaning of fear" - 風間 仁 /Jin Kazama

- Vergil